Bag-handling mechanism



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M. V. GRONO BAG HANDLING MECHANI SM Filed June 2, 1923v 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

9 ATTORNEY May 11 1926.

M. V. GRoNo BAG HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Junez, 1923 J9 50 I A )5* f5? y' ii I,

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1926.A

UNITEDv STATES? PATENT oFFlcE.

MICHAEL v. Gaone, or YoNKEns, NEW roux. i

BAG-HANDLING MECHANISM.

Application led .Tune 2,

This invention relates to bag handling mechanism. I

The invention relates more particularly to mechanism adapted for use in loading, shaking down and transporting or carrying bags through suitable machines such as sewing. machines forclosing the open ends thereof.

Mechanism of this character may be used..

ingconveyer by which they are conveyedto sewing machines. This work is very heavy and fatiguing and places a severe strain on thev operatives.

This invention has for its salient object to provide automatically operating mechanism for supporting, shaking down, and conveying bags of material through suitable bag closing` mechanism, such as sewing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for supporting bags in condition for securing or sewing the upper ends thereof without requiring any manual handling thereof. n l

Another object of the invention isto provide mechanism Afor supporting, conveying and releasing bags.

Further objects of the invention will vap-` pear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, Lwhich form a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bag handling mechanism,-parts being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an elevational-view of the structure shown 'in Fig. 1, but showing the rotatable table and driving gearing in section'. Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing one of the bags and the supporting mechanism therefor, disposed above the bag elevating cam and also showing'the suspension and discharging means disposed above the bag and bag clamps.v4 w. f

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the bag, supports and clamps lelevated. y y

Fig. 5 is a View similar to-Figs. 3 and/l,

1923. Serial 110,642,942.

but showing the bag clamps and bag suspended by thesuspensionand discharging means or carriage.

f Fig. 6 illustrates the bag clamps mounted on a supporting bar with the upper end of the bag closed and in position to be conveyed throughthe sewing machine.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation illustrating the construction of one of vthe bag clamps.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view taken at right angles to Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the carriage. for transferring the loaded bag and clamps therefor from the rotatable table to the supporting' bar on which the bags are fed Vthrough the sewing machines.

The invention briefly described consists of` bag handling mechanism comprising bag engaging clamps adapted to hold the upper end of the bag open for filling and to hold the end closed for sewing. The bags and clamps are initially mounted on supporting means mounted on a movable carrier which in this instance consists of a rotatable table. The supportingmeans on thetable engage the clamps and hold the bag in open position for filling and in one position of'movement of the table, the bag .and clamps secured thereto are raised and dropped to shake down and settle the material in the bag. When the clamps and a bag carried thereby descend, they are engaged by and suspended from supporting means or hooks mounted on a movable carriage. This carriage is then moved to discharge the clamps and bag carried thereby from the rotatable table onto a supporting bar. This bar engages the clamps in such a manner that the upper end of the bag will be closed and a conveyer is provided for engaging the clamps and moving the bag through suitable bag securing mechanism, such as a sewing machine. After passing through the sewing machine, the clamps are engaged by releasing mechanism whichreleases the clamping jaws, permitting the bag to pass therefrom into a suitable bin Bag holding clamps.

The bag holding clampsl are'mounted on arms lO'and 11, a pair of these arms being provided for each set Vof clamps and the arms Vbeing pivotally connected at their inner ends to a pintle 12. Each pair of arms has mounted in its outer ends a spindle 13 and each spindle has secured thereto and spaced longitudinally thereon a pair of stationary jaws 14. The stationary jaws are bifurcated at the end secured to the spindle and a movable jaw 15 is pivoted on the spindle between the bifurcated ends of the stationary jaw. Each spindle 13 also has secured thereto a pair of arms 16 and in the outer ends of these arms, there is pivoted a shaft 17 having secured thereto or formed thereon a pairof cams 18 disposed opposite to and in a position to engage the pivoted jaws 15 of the clamp. The shaft 17 also has secured thereto and extending laterally therefrom a cam control arm 19. As illustrated in Fig. 7,

" the spindles 13 extend materially beyond the the mechanism and this releasing means will bedescribed in detail afterv the remaining structure has been described..

Rotatable carrier und bag supporting strucmrc.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,lthe bags are first mounted on a rotatable table 20, which is mounted in bearings 21 on a base 22.

The table 20 has mounted radially thereon a plurality of sets of bag supports and means is provided for intermittently rotatjing the table, this rotating means being constructed and arranged to allow the table to remain stationary to permit the bags to be lled and to permit the bag clamps to be raised and dropped, to shake down the niaterial and to be then discharged from the table.

Any suitable'means may be provided for rotating the table and in the embodiment of the inventionshown, the table is yrotated vfrom a shaft v23 driven from any suitable source of power. The shaft 23 has secured thereto a mutilated gear 24 adapted to mesh with a gear 25 mounted on a shaft 26. The shaftl 26 has secured toits opposite end a mutilated gear 27 which in turn meshes with a gear 28 mountedon a stub shaft 29. The shaft 29 also has secured thereto a gear 30 which meshes withl an internal gear 31 formed on or secured to a fiange-32 to the table 20. As just described, the gears 24 and 27 are mutilated or are provided with teeth throughout a portion only of their circumference, these gears being constructed in this way to permit the table to remain stationary during the filling, shaking down and discharging portions of the cycle of operations as hereinafter set forth.

Four supports are provided for each of the bag clamps and bags. These supports comprise rods 35 slidably mounted in tubular casings 36 secured to the table. Two of the rods for supporting each clamp are provided with bifurcated upper ends 37 adapted to receive what may be termed the inner ends of the spindles 13. The outer ends of these spindles are received in bifurcated seats 38 formed on arms 39 secured to the upper ends of the other two supporting rods 35. lThe lower ends of the rods 35 are connected Lby a base 40 which is secured thereto. The upper ends of the rods 35 have formed thereon shoulders-41 which by engagement with i ythe upper ends of the tubular casings 36 limit the downward movement ofthe rods 35 in the casings'. j

When a bag has been secured in the clamps, the spindles 13 thereof are mounted in the bifurcated upper ends 37 of one pair of rods 35 and the opposite ends of these spindles are mounted 1n the seats 38 formed in the arms 39 secured to the upper ends of the other pair of rods 35. The clamps are illustrated in Fig. 1 as so mounted.- The empty bags and clamps therefor are mounted onthe table when the supports are in the position shown at A, or, if desired, in the position shown at B or C., When the bag reaches the position D, the material is deposited in the bag through a. chute 42 and theEbag then passes to the position shown at Bag elevating amd shake down mechanism.

When the bag reaches the position shown at E, the base 40 of the bag supporting means is disposed above a cam 50 mounted on the shaft 26. At this period in the cycle of operations, the cam 50 will be rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 and will raise' the bag support-ing rods 35 and therewith the clamps and bag to the position shown in Fig. 4. There is mounted above the bag and clamps when these parts are disposed in the position E, a movable carriage 51 comprising a rectangular frame 52 (see Fig. 9) formed of a pair of frame members 53 which are connected by transverse frame members 54. The frame .members 53 have secured-thereto a plurality of grooved sheaves 55 which are mounted on parallel tracks 56. The frame members 54 have formed at their ends bosses 57 in which are slidably mounted rods 58. The rods 58 at one end of the frame are connected by bars or 4frame membersl 58a in which is -mounted a shaft 590-11 the ends of which are mounted sheaves 60 which in turn are supported on a pair of tracks 61.

On the lower end of each rod 58 there is pivoted a hook 62 normally disposed in ,vertical position and held therein by a spring 63.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that when the bag and clamps are elevated by the cam 50 to their uppermost position the spindles 13 will be disposed above the hooks 62 and from the showing in Fig. 5, it will be noted that when the cam 50 has swung to the position shown therein, the bag and clamps will drop until the spindles 13 are seated in the hooks 62. This sudden \drop ping of the bag will shake down or settle the material therein and the bag and clamps will then be supported by the carriage 51.

Means is provided for discharging the bags from the table onto the supporting bar l on which they are fed through the sewing machine. This .means comprises a lever 70 pivoted at 71 in a casing 72 secured to the' base 22 and extending upwardly through the casing to a position above the table 20. This lever has secured to its lower end a lug or roller 73 which is positioned in a cam slot 7 4 formed in a cam 75 mounted on the shaft 26. This cam is so formed that cwhen a bag has been lifted by the carriage 51, the lever will be actuated to discharge the bag from the table. The upper end of the lever 71 is connected by pin and slot connection 76, 77 to a bar 78 which in turn is secured to the carriage 51.

The tracks 61 and 56 as illustrated in Fig. l 2 are disposed parallel to each other for aportion of their lengths, this portion being disposed directly above the position E of the ba'g. The tracks 61, however, are inclined as shown at 80 from their initial level to a lower level 8l and in this lower level, these tracks are again parallel with thek tracks 56.

- As the carriage 51 is actuated by the lever mechanism described, the rollers will travel down the incline and as these rollers travel downwardly, the -rods 58 will slide through the bosses 57 thereby lowering the bag clamps and bag. As these parts are lowered to the position shown in Fig 6, the arms 10 and 11 of thefclajmp will straddle a supporting bar and the clamps will be released .from the hooks 62. In this position Vthe clamps will hold the upper end of the bag in closed position ready for securing. l Bag conveying and sewing mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 2, a conveyer 86 receives table and/,as the clamps are transferred to the bar 85. The clamps and bags are fed along the conveyer 86 and the clamps are also fed along the bar 85 by meansof lugs 87 mounted on an overhead belt 88 positioned above the bar and adapted to engage the clamps. It will be understood that the conveyer 86 and the belt 88 will rotate at the same speed, these conveyers being connected by a belt 89.

The upper' ends of the bags may be secured by `any suitable mechanism and in the drawings, a sewing machine S is shown in a position to sew the upper end of the bag.

Bag'` releasing mechanism.

After the bags have passed through the sewing machine, meansris provided for releasing the bags from the clamps. This means comprises a pair of plungers 90 slidably mounted in a bracket 91. The plungers are actuated by means of rods 92 pivoted at 93,to an extension 94 of the bracket 91 and-connected by pin .and slot connection 95, 96 tothe plungers. Springs 97 normally maintainl the plungers in elevated position and the plungers are olepressed by lugs 98 mounted on a shaft 99, this shaft being driven by the belt 89. Vhen the lugs 98 engage the rods 92, the plungers 90 will be depressed thereby engaging the arms 19 of the cams 18 and releasing the pivoted jaws 15 of the clamps.V The bag thus released may pass down a chute 10() into a suitable bin or receptacle. The clamps will be discharged by the lugs 87 Yfrom the bar 85 and may pass down a chute 101 into a suitable receptacle.

Operation.

The operation of the bag handling mechanism may be brieflyv described as follows. The bags are first secured to the clampsand the clamps are then mounted in the supporting standards of the position A of the table or, if desired, at position B or position C. The filling mechanism may be located at position B, C or D and after the bag has been filled, it will be rotated to position E.

In this position the bag and clamp are raised and dropped, as ,shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the bag and clamp being transferred from the supportingl standards to the hooks 62 of the carriage 51.' lAfter the material has been shaken down,-theicarriage 51 will be actuated to transfer the bag and clamp to the vconveyer 86and clamp vsupporting bar 85 in which position the upper end of the bag is closed. The bag will then travel through the sewing machine and will finally be discharged from the clamps by the plungers 90. As the bag is being discharged bly 'Y the carriage 51, the supporting arms 39 -wi be swung to the position shown at F in Fig'.

l and these arms will be returned to their bag receiving position by the machine operative.

From this description it will be seen that no manual handling of the bag is required after the bag has been initially placed on the supports carri-ed by the table. Therefore,

' the operatives are not required to lift and means for supporting and holding a bag in.

quently engageable with said holding means for transporting the filled bag with the upper end closed through a sewing machine.

2. Bag handling mechanism comprising open position for filling, means for lifting and dropping the filled bag, and means subsequently engageable with said holding means for transporting the bag with the upper end closed through a sewing machine.

3. Bag handling mechanism comprising Vbag clamping means, means for supporting said clamping means in position to hold theV bag open for filling and means subsequently engageable with the bag clamping means for supporting said clamping means in position to hold the bag closed for sewing.

4. Bag handling mechanism comprising pivoted bag clamping means, means for supporting said clamping means in position to hold the bag open for filling and means subsequently engageable with the bag clamping means for supporting said clamping means in position to hold the bag closed for sewm .i

Bag handling mechanism comprising bag clamping means, means for Asupporting said clamping means from below in position t-o hold the bag open for filling and means for suspending said clamping means in position tohold the bag closed for sewing.

6. Bag handling mechanism comprising l pivoted bag clamping means, means for supporting said clamping means from below in position to holdthebag open for filling and means for suspending said clampingm'eans in position to hold'the' bag closed vfor sewing.:

7. Bag handling mechanism comprising supporting standards, bag holding clamps adapted to rest on said standards and hold bags in open position thereon, and'mean-s for 'raising said standards andclam to `elevated positlon and for dropping t e clamps and bags to shake down or settle the materl'al 1n the bags. f

8. Bag handling mechanism comprising I supporting standards, bag holding clam s' adapted to rest on saidV standards and ho d bags in open position thereon, means for raising said standards and clamps to elevated position and for dropping the clamps and bags to shake down or settle the material in the bags, andni'a's for engaging said clamps as they descend and for supporting said clamps and bags, said last named means being movable to discharge said clamps and bags on a supporting member adapted to support the bag with the upper end closed. 9. Bag handling mechanism comprising supporting standards, bag holding clamps adapted to rest on said standards and hold bags in open position thereon, means for raising said standards and clamps to ele-l vated position and for dropping theclamps and bags to shake down or settle the material in the bags, and suspension means for en- Y gaging said clamps as they descend and for supporting said clamps and bags, said last named means being movable to discharge said clamps and bags on a supporting bar adapted to support the bag with the upper end closed. l0. Bag handling mechanism comprising supporting standards, bag holding clamps adapted to rest on said standards and hold Y bags in open position thereon, means for raising said standards and clamps to elevatedposition and for dropping the clamps and bags to shake down or settle the material in the bags, and means including hooks for engaging said clamps as they descend and for supporting said clamps and bags, said last named means being movable to discharge said clamps and bags on a supporting member adapted to support the bag with the upper en'd closed.

11. Bag handling mechanism comprising supporting standards, bag holding clamps adapted to restion said standards and hold bags in open position thereon, means for 'raising said standards and clamps to ele- 116 vated position and for dropping the clamps and bags to shake down o-r `settle t-hematerial in the bags and suspension means including hooks for engaging said clamps as .they descend and for lsupporting said clamps and bags, said last named means being movable todischarge said clamps and bags on a supporting -member adapted to support the bag with the upper end closed.

12'. Bag handling mechanism comprising 125 l a rotatablel table, means thereon fr/supporting a plurality of bags inopen position for filling, means for supporting' the bags with the upper ends closed and for passing the upper ends of thebags through a sewing machine, and means for transferring the bags from tlie table to said second named supporting means.

-13. Bag handling mechanism comprising a rotatable table, means thereon for supporting a plurality of bags in open position for filling, means operable on said supporting means for shaking down said bags to settle the material therein, means for supporting the bags with the upper ends close-d and for passing the upper ends of the bags through a sewing machine, and'ineans for-transfer-- ring the bags from the table to said second named supllorting means. l

14. Bag andling mechanism comprising a rotatable table, means thereon for supl porting a plurality of bags in open position for filling, means for s aking down said bags' to settle the material therein, means for supporting the bags with the upper ends closed and lfor passing the upper ends of the bags through a sewing machine, and

means including suspension hooks for transferring the bags from the table vto said second named supporting means.

15. Bag handling mechanism comprising a rotatable table, means thereon for support-v ing a plurality of bags in open position for filling, means for shaking down said bags to settle the material therein, means for supporting the bags with the upper ends" closed and for passing the-upper ends of the bags thrrugh a sewing machine, and means including a reciprocable member for transferring the' bags from the table to said second named su portin means.

16. Baghandlmg mec'anism comprising a ritatable table, means thereon for supporting a plurality of bags in open-position for lilling, lmeans for s aking down said bags to' settle the material therein, means 'for supporting the bags with the up er endsl vclosed and for passing the upper en s of the bags through a'sewin machine, and means including. a reciproca le member and fsusens ion hooks thereon -for transferring the ags ,fromthe tableA to said second named supporting means.

17. Bag handling mechanism comprising bag holding clamps, .a rotatable table hav-- ing supporting means'` disposed radially L thereony and adapted to support said bag holding clamps in position to hold the bags open, and means for raising the, bag, clampsl and supporting means when said table .is in a predetermined position.

18. Bag handling lmechanism comprising bag holding clamps, a rotatable table having supporting .means disposed radially thereon and adapted Ito support said -bag holding clamps in position to hold the bags open, and means disposedbeneath the table for raising the bag, clamps and supporting means when said table is in a predetermined position. v

means for raising the bag, clamps and supv.porting means when said tableis in a predetermined position, and means for discharging said. b'agsand clamps from the table -whensaid table is disposed in said predetermined position.

- 21. Bag handling mechanism comprising bag holding clamps, a lrotatable table having supporting means disposed radially thereon u y and adapted to support said bag holding clamps in -position to hold the bags open,

means for raising the bag, clamps and sup-- porting means when said table is in a predetermined position,` means for dischargin said bags and clamps from the table, an

supporting means. 'engageable' with said clamps for receiving the vdischarged clamps and bags from said discharging means.

22. Bag handling mechanism comprising l bag holding clamps, a rotatable table having supporting means disposed radially thereon and adapted to support said bag holding clamps `in position to hold the bags open, means for raising the bag, clamps and, supporting means'when said table is in a predetermined position, means for discharging said bags andclamps from the table, sup? vporting means engageable with said clamps for receiving the discharged l clampsI and bags from said' discharging means, and

means-for feeding said bags through a sewing machine.

23. Bag holding clamps L 'comprising' a .Y

pintle, arms pivoted thereon, stationary and movable clamping jaws carried by said arms and means for holding the movable jaws in tionaryfjaws. -y j 24. Bag holding clamps comprising a pintle, two pairs of arms pivoted thereon, a

spindle mounted in the outer end of each pair of arms, a stationary jaw fixed on each spindle, af pivoted jaw mounted on each spindle to coact with the stationar jaw and means for holding said pivoted jaw in clamping position.

25. Bag handling means .comprising bag.

holding clamps'having `stationary jaws, mov able jaws and means -for actuating .the movable vjaws to clamping position, supporting 4clamping ,position'with respectvtothe stameans for the clamps, means for moving said supporting meansf` bags and clamps,

.. movable jaws to clamping position, supportr ing means for the clamps, means for moving said supportlng means, A bags and clamps,

means for elevating the bags" and clamps' means'engageable with the clamps in'theii" elevated position fgr supporting'and transporting the bags and clamps from -the first named supporting means, and reciprocable means for engaging and releasing the jaw actuating means When the clamps and bag reach a 4predetermined position onsaid supporting means. a .Y

27, Bag handling mechanism' comprising bag'holding clamps, a rotatable table hav-r ing supporting means dispo-sed 'radially thereon and adapted to support saidbag the lscharged clamps and bags from said L holdingclamps in position to hold the bags open, means for raising the bag, clamps andv supporting means When said table is in a predetermined position, means engageable Withl the bags and clamps in their elevated position for 'discharging' said bags and clamps from thev table, supportingv means engagea-ble with said clamps for receiving discharging means, and means for releasing the bags from the clamps.

28. 4Bagkl handling mechanism comprising bag holding clamps, a rotatable table having supporting means disposed radiallj,Y thereon and adapted to support said bag holding clamps in position to hold the bags open, means for raising the bag, clamps and supporting means When said table is in a predetermined position, means for discharging said bags and clamps from the table,

supporting means engageable with said clamps for receivingthe discharged clamps Pand bags from said discharging means,

means for feeding said bags through a sewing machine, and means for releasing the bags from. the clamps after the bags have passed through the sewing machine.

29. Bag handling mechanism comprising bag holding clamps, a rotatable table having supporting means disposed radially thereon and adapted to support said bag holding clamps in position to hold the bags open, means `for `raising the bag, clampsv and supporting means when said table is in a predetermined position, means for dischargingl said bags and clamps from the table, supporting means, engageable with said' clamps for receiving the discharged clamps and bags from said discharging a means, means for feeding said bags through a sewing machine, and automatically operable means for releasing the bags from theclamps after the bags .have passed through the' sewing machine'.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of May, 1923.

` MICHAEL V. GROND, 

